Book-file.



UNITED STATES Patented. June 14, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HORACE MCCORMICK, OF DES MOINES, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO THE COM- PLETE BOOK-KEEPER CO., OF IOWA.

OF DES MOINES, IOWA, A CORPORATION BOOK-FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,836, dated June 14, 1904:.

Application filed November 16,1903. Serial No. 181,450. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE MCCORMICK, of Des Moines, Polk county, Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book- Files, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in files designed to contain loose sales-slips, accounts, memoranda, &c. and the object of the invention is to provide a file for each individual customers account wherein the duplicate sales-slips are placed to enable a merchant to easily and quickly ascertain the balance due from any customer in whose name the file is kept.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a book-file embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line a" m of Fig. 1. showing the name card or plate and the manner of securing the same on the back of the file. Fig. 4: is a section on the line y y of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 2 represents the back cover of the book, made of heavy strawboard or metal, as preferred, and provided at one end with a metallic reinforcing-plate 3, that has tongues 1 passing through the back plate and clenched therein, and clips 5, that are bent down around the end of said back cover and hold the plate 3- securely thereon. Mounted on the plate 3 are upright posts 6, having squared or flattened upper ends whereon duplicate sales-slips are placed. 3

The outer edge of the plate 3 is provided with an upwardly-extending flange 7 substantially at right angles to the plate 3 and forming the back of the book. This flange is provided with lips 8, forming guides for a card 9, whereon the customers name is placed, and at each end of said card a knob or projection 10 is formed in the flange 7 to engage the ends Fig. 3 is an end view.

of the card and prevent it from accidentally slipping out of place between the guides. When the book is placed in a file-case, the back and the name-card carried thereby will be visible and the merchant or clerk can easily pick out any customers book in which it is desired to file a sales-slip.

The upper edge of the flange 7 is provided with a pivot-pin 11, whereon a plate 12 is hinged and secured to the front cover 13 by tongues and clips corresponding to those heretofore described with reference to the plate 3. This hinged plate 12 secures the front cover of the book to the back and forms a very substantial durable connection between them.

In a book of this kind it is desirable to provide some means for preventing the accidental detachment of sales-slips from the post 6, and I therefore prefer to provide a follower device 14, mounted on the pivot-rod 11 and having slightly-arched arms 15, provided with notched ends 16 to' rest upon the squared ends OfTlFYp OstsB when said follower is in its depressed position. Lugs 17 are provided on said follower to engage the flange7 and limit the downward movement of said arms. On the under side of the follower 1 1 is a lip 18,

that is engaged by the curved end 19 of a spring 20. This spring passes through a loop or eye 21 in the plate 3 and has upwardlyturned ends, as shown, one of which bears on the lip 18, as described, while the other is held against movement by a loop 22 on .theflange 7. A hole 23 is'provided in the follower 14:

in position to receive the end 19 When the fol-.

lower is swung down to its depressed position, and when in such position the tension of the spring will be exerted to hold the arms on the tops of the" posts and prevent the accidental detachment of the slips therefrom. Theraising and lowering of the follower and arms will cause a twisting or torsional action on the is written on a card and the card inserted between the guides on the back of the book, where the name is plainly visible. Then whenever a sale is made or at the close of a days business the duplicate slips, bearing the name of the purchaser and the articles bought, are placed upon the stub, where they can be conveniently referred to, the upper slip always showing the balance due after the last purchase. The follower-arms are then swung down to rest upon the top of the post, and the slips cannot then become accidentally detached and lost.

I claim as my invention 1. In a book-file, the combination, with a back cover, of a reinforcing-plate provided on said cover, paper-holding studs provided on said reinforcing-plate, a back plate, a follower hinged on said back plate and a spring mounted on said reinforcing-plate and having upwardly-turned ends, one end being secured to said back plate and the other end engaging said follower, substantially as described.

2. In a book-file, the combination, with a back cover, of a reinforcingplate secured thereon, paper-holding studs mounted on said plate, a back plate, a follower hinged thereon and having a depending lip and arms arranged to rest upon the tops of said studs and a spring loosely mounted on said reinforcing-plate and having upwardly-turned ends, one end being secured to said back plate and the other end being slightly curved and engaging said lip, for the purpose specified.

3. In a book-file, the combination, with a back cover, of paper-holding studs mounted thereon, a back plate secured to said cover, a follower mounted on said back plate, lugs provided on said back plate forming guides between which the name-card is inserted, and

knobs or projections provided in said back plate, for the purpose specified.

4. In a book-file, the combination, with a back cover, of a reinforcingplate secured thereon, paper-holding studs mounted in said plate, a back plate formed integrally with said reinforcing-plate and projecting upwardly substantially at right angles thereto, a front cover. a plate secured to said front cover and hinged on the upper edge of said back plate, and a follower having a common pivot with said front-cover plate on said back plate and provided with arms adapted to rest upon the ends of said studs, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the front and back covers, of a reinforcing metallic plate secured to said back cover and having an upwardlyturned flange forming the back of the book, paper-holding studs mounted on said reinforcing-plate, a plate secured to said front cover and hinged to the upper edge of said back plate, a follower mounted on a common pivot with said front-cover plate and having forwardly-projecting arms adapted to rest upon the ends of said studs, and stops for limiting the downward movement of said follower.

6. In a book-file, the combination, with a back cover, of a reinforcing-plate provided thereon, paper-holding studs mounted on said plate, a back plate, a follower hinged on said back plate and a spring having upwardlyturned ends, one being secured to said back cover and the other engaging said follower.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of October, 1903.

HORACE MCCORMICK. 

